The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-26
TIE StAtE LECiSkATURE.
M
h~T<<. Before the Judiciary Conn
NJ "n the Ferry Landing
Question.
Portiand's interests Advocated by
Able Counsel.
An Important Notice From the Cat
tie Commissioners
The Amount of the Annual County
Estimates.
An Appropriation of $1,000 a Year
for the Industrial School.
The Defeat of the Looney Labor Bill
Predicted.
The Heath Bili Likely To BE SUBJ
stituted.
The Question of the Boston & Maine
Consolidation.
Amendments to the Bill Offered Be-
fore the Railroad Committee
Amendments to the Bill Offered Be-
fore the Railroad Committee.
Especial to the Press.]

| Especial TO the Press
AUGUSTA, Feb. %.
Before the railroad committee THURSDAY
afternoon, there was a very interesting hear.
ing on the new draft of the Boston & Maine
bill, the bill which would allow the Boston
& Maine to purchase certain other related
roads, among them the Portland & Rochester
and the Portland, Saco 4 Portsmouth. Fol
the Boston & Maine, George c. Yeaton, Esq,
spoke first He said there were seventeen
different roads indirectly controlled by the
Boston & Maine. If they could be consoli-
dated under one management, he had no
doubt that saving of $4,000 could be ef-
fected yearly in the management. Besides
this saving of money, there would be re-
lief from numerous embarrassments which
arise from the loose relationship of the
| roads and their different arrangements. He
thought there could be no objection to the
| bill.
But Hon. w. f. Lunt of Portland was
there for the very purpose of objecting. He
came to represent the Mayor of Portland
and certain private citizens, and in their be-
half to protest against the passage of the
bill. His reasons were that it would make
| the Boston & Maine much more powerful
and independent, much more able to dictate
to and discriminate against the people of
Maine. 1t would leave all railroad lines
running from Portland to the West, except
the Ogdensburg and Grand Trunk, under
the direct management of the Boston &
Maine. And then the Ogdensburg was mem
aced. There. was, Mr.. Lunt said, suspi-
clous activity in the stock market, an activi-
ty of Boston & Lowell stock. lie remem-
bered having seen just such an activity in
another stock before the lease of the Eastern
to the Boston & Maine. Now, he had no
doubt lease of the Boston & Lowell to the
within short time. The effect of that on
the 0gdensburg would be very bad, as it
would leave the western outlet Qf the Og-
densburg in the hands of the Boston 4
Maine. The western gateway of Maine
would be In the hands of one great corpora
tion, and the merchants of Portland at its
mercy. Then, when this was done, the next
move would be on the Maine Central Mr..
Lunt, therefore, to avert these threatened
troubles, proposed these amendments to the
bill:
(A). Said Boston Maine Railroad shall trans
port over any railroad lines under its management
or control, cars, freight and passengers received
Railway at rates as favorable as may be granted
or accorded by any other railroad corporation
transporting forwarding or receiving cars freight
ana passengers to or from said Portland & Og-
denSburg Railway.
,.(B). Said Boston & Maine Railroad shall not,
unCSbly VI lHutIctly, fndndHe OF control the
Maine Central Railroad, and shall, at all times,
transport over its lines cars freight and passen-
gers received from or delivered TO said Maine
granted or accorded by any other railroad trans
porting, forwarding or reeeiving ears, freght or
passengers to or from the line Of said Maine Gen.
raj Railroa d.
Hon. w. L. Putnam replied to Mr.. Lunt,
for the Boston & Maine. He was not in
position either to affirm or deny the story
that the Lowell was about to be leased to
esied such direful things. But it did not
matter. This bill is in no way related to
such a lease, the assent for which would
come from Massachusetts and New Hamp-
shire, and not from Maine. Mr.. Putnam
spoke of the advantages which would result
fIom the purchases proposed in the pending
bill, the simplifcation of the list of securi-
ties and the economy of management Then
he gave facts to show the friendliness of the
Boston q Maine to the 0gdensbnrg. He did
sent the city of Portland. As to the amend
ment relating to the Boston & Maine,
he could not say whether or not it was ac-
ceptable, as he had not seen it before
AS to the Maine Central amendment. the
one named (B), Hon. Josiah Drummond had
some very decided opinions. He represented
the Maine Central, and Mr.. Lunt was going
lar out OF his way to propose an amendment
In behalf of the road which he (Mr. LunD
| did not represent. Mr.. Drummond held that
the consolidation contemplated would be for
| the public good, and illustrated his position
| by reference to the excellent effect of the
consolidation of the various roads now COM
| posing the Maine Central.
The committee have tabled the bill for fu-
| ture action.
Prison Industries.
The Senate is likely to have chance for
some talk over the question of the competi-
tion of convict labor. Two committees, the
Cfofo Ind hov oIJ
ings on the subject, and this morning their
reports came in. The State Prison commit
tee say that the convicts must be employed
that the must be employed at some industries
that will give them useful trades when they
| get out. They also say that it is unjust to so
limit the industries at Thomasson that the
carriage and harness manufacturers have to
| bear the whole weight of competition. So
the Prison committee recommend that the
manufacture Of whips, corn brooms, kitchen
chairs and baskets be introduced into the
| prison.
The second report is from the judiciary
| committee. They make no recommendations,
but go to the root of the matter by reporting
completed bill. This is the bill:
An act to regulate the employment of the CON
victs at the Maine State Prison:
Sec. 1.-No more than one tenth of all the male
conyicts in the Maine State Prison shall be EN-.
ployed at any time in any one industry or in the
Manufacture of any one kind of goods
Sec. 2.-The manufacture and repair of all
kinds of wagons. carriages and sleighs, except
the manufacture OF infant carriages shall be con-
sIdered one industry within the meaning of this
act.
Sec. $50 far as practicable the industries
upon which said convicts shall be employed shal
be the manufactqre Of articles not elsewhere
Sec. All articles and goods manufactured at
the prison for sale shall be distinctly labelled o
branded with these words: Manufactured al
the Maine State Prison"
Sec b.-This act shall take effect Sept 1, 1887
A gentleman we'll acquainted with the
business at the prison raises the point thai
in one respect this bill is very defective i
stpulates that mot more than ten per cent
of the conyicts shall be employed in lany on,
branch of industry. But if any industry
should be found in which no free laborers O.
Maine are engaged it might be advisable Il
set all the convicts at work at it, a thing
which the bill in its present form would for
bid.
The Ferry Landing Question.
Fourteen towns of Cumberland count,
were represented before the judiciary com
mittee today by Lawyer Parks of Bruins
wick, who argued that Portland should pa,
the damage for the ferry landing. Two ex
County Commissioners, w. l.. Prince ant
John l.. Swift told how much ways an,
bridges had cost Cumberland county durinl
the last TWO years, and urged that the count,
not now be asked to pay for the way to
ferry that was largely for the benefit o
Portland. The representatives of Wind
ham, Bridgton, Brunswick and Standis
argued the same way. These towns woul
get no benefit, therefore, should not be calle
on to contribute.
For Portland appeared Henry b. Cleave
, Josiah Drummond and Nathan Cleaves.
letter from Judge Symonds expressing tn
opinion that the imposition OF the costs o.
= the county was right and Just was reaC
: Then Mr.. Cleayes opened the argument TO
: Portland. Portland, always paid her shar
for land damages no matter how remote tn
road. Portland's share was three-ffths an
/ She had paid it on roads lying in remote part
of the county: which Portland people neve
or rarely used, but never before had Portlan
asked anything of this sort from the count,
: Then the great and wealthy towns of Co
ham Wesfhrook DeerinQ and CaDe Fliz.